Planning

• Don’t plan too far in advance. We were shocked at how much planning out a few weeks really impacted our ability to relax and enjoy the flow of the trip. When we arrived in Colombia we had wonderful plans for making our way north to Bogota to house-sit for a friend. We booked our flight to Ushuaia from Bogota as well as a couple hostels along the path with a goal of spending 2+ months enjoying the country. Unfortunately, due to the historic flooding there, we found ourselves unable to get north of Pasto. The result was numerous cancelled hotels (some which we paid non-refundable deposits), huge flight change fees, and a feeling of constant worry about how we were going to get to Bogota for the 29th of December.
• When splurging, look for ways to economize. We decided to splurge on a “nicer” hotel for a week, but we bought sandwich food, fruit, and wine to make our own meals. In addition, we booked a hotel 4 km out of town so we would not be tempted to hang out in coffee shops all day or be tempted to buy unnecessary things (easy to do when you are in *wait* mode). When we did go to town we walked, which gave us some good exercise and saved on cab fare. Taking advantage of beautiful surroundings to picnic, walk, and enjoy nature for free.
• Make plans with other travelers. When we got off the ship after our Antarctic trip we stayed for a couple f nights at a hostel with friends from the trip. We went hiking and camping with them, and by pooling our money for food and transportation costs we were able have a great time for very little cash. This is a really fun way to see new things as well as save money. Don’t be shy about asking new travel friends and acquaintances to cook together, share cab fares or other expenses.
• When you are on a cruise or other tab-oriented trip you must keep track of your spending daily. It is easy to wake up several weeks later to a huge bar bill (and not just alcohol – this includes sodas and other extras). We kept track along the way so it wasn’t a surprise.
• Don’t forget to tip the staff when it is customary to tip, even if the trip is heavily discounted or free. It is bad karma to neglect the people who have made the experience so pleasant.
• Don’t plan a trip away at the last minute if the costs are too high.  We booked 2 days in Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK at a room that was $100/night. And when we got there the tickets for the theater were sold out due to opening night. Bad planning all the way around.
• Slower is cheaper – while we have been tremendous fans of slow travel, the fact is that in Europe it became critical to the budget.  By staying in one place for a month or more we got much better rates on apartments.  The additional benefit is you really get to know a place by staying longer and living more like a local.
• If you currently have multiple debts i.e. credit card, car loan, personal loan, they can be hard to manage while on your travels. Consider the option to consolidate debt to simplify the management of your finances, while ensuring you understand all the benefits and risks along the way.
•  DO NOT wait until the end of the month to do your finances. Instead, track your spending everyday. [thanks to Jenni & Lisa at Out & Around]
• DO NOT try to see everything in a country. [thanks to Jenni & Lisa at Out & Around]
• Calculate all the costs – when comparing different forms of transportation, be sure to calculate all the costs. In Europe the trains are actually quite expensive. Typically you can find flights for less than half the price between 2 cities. However, be sure to include the cost of getting to/from each airport, baggage fees, etc into your calculations. Often times we found that when you added the cost of getting out to the airport it would add significantly to the overall price.